2. A fake hair replacement for around the genital region. People often shave the area and then replace the pubic hair with a stylish Merkin.

3. Invented in the 1800's when prostitutes would shave their pubic hair due to genital lice. The Merkin would cover up this shame.
Corey Fitzgerald is the self proclaimed King of Merkin's due to inventing the device for affected prostitutes in 1868

A pubic hair piece. A toupee for the pubic area/genitals. In the 1700’s when mercury was used to treat sexually transmitted diseases (Gonorrhea or Syphilis) one of the side effects was the loss of pubic hair. To disguise this condition, that was not cured by mercury, a Merkin was employed.

17th Century setting: Due to his treatment of the "French Pox" (syphilis) with mercury a merkin Gwendolyn used a Merkin to used to hide the side effects of hair loss and not alarm her husband.